Arc-lamp condenser.



UNITED STATES PATENT QEETCE.

JOHN L. DINSM'OOR, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YGRK.

.ARC-LAMP CONDENSER.

Application filed May 8, 1914.

To ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, donn L. DINsMoon, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of N ew York, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Arc- Lamp Condenser, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a condenser for arc lamps wherein the fine particles of dust mechanically suspended in gases evolved bythe arc when burning chemically impregnated carbone, are eliminated from such gases in a thorough and efficient manner.

Et is well established that an electric arc evolves certain gases which in the case of arc lamps carry fine particles of dust, the latter being set free when burning impregnated carbons. The gases thus evolved are desirably retained around the arc in order to perform the twofold function of obtaining luminous eiliciency and of prolonging the life or service of the carbons, hence the necessity for replacing the carbons or trimming the lamp does not arise so frequently and the durability of the carbone is increased. The presence of the gases around the arc and within the globe inclosure brings about a very undesirable condition, z'. e. the inner surface of the transparent globe becomes coated with a deposit of fine carbon dust, as a result of which the illumination afforded by the arc is materially interfered i with and it is necessary to frequently clean the glassware by dismounting the globe andbrushing out the accumulated dust.

a ions attempts have been made in the art pertaining to arc lamps to overcome the foregoing objections, such as by the employment of different forms of globe inclosures, by filtration of the arc gases, and by the mechanical construction of condensing chambers; but so far as T am aware the problem of thoroughly eliminating the dust from the gases while retaining such gases around the arc and at the same time obtaining clean glass remains to a degree unsolved in long life lamps adapted for burningl impregna-.ted carbons.

The deposit of dust upon the interior surface of the globe was found to be due in an are lamp minus a condenser to the circulation of the heated arc gases, carrying more or less dust, into contact with the relatively cooler surfaces of the globe around which the external air is free to circulate. Tt was Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24C, 1917.

Serial No. 837,133.

found, furthermore, that by keeping the globe around the arc in a hot condition, and by circulating the gases, laden with dust., into a chamber distinct from the arc chamber that a substantial amount of the dust was deposited upon the walls of such a separate chamber, due to the fact that the walls of such chamber were not heated so highly as the walls of the arc globe chamber, thus appreciably cooling the arc gases and resulting in a deposit of dust upon the relatively cooler walls of such separate chamber, the cooled and partly purified arc gases being free to flow back to the arc.

Condensers of the prior art are based upon globe inclosure of a particular form, or a condensing chamber the cross sectional shape of which is such as to render it diflicult to remove the ceposits of carbon dust, or a globe inclosure which embodies an inner globe and an outer globe operating conjointly with an elevated condensing chamber so that the inner globe next to the arc is retained in a heated condition by said arc owing to the fact that the outer globe prevented the atmospheric air from coming into contact with said inner globe; but in all such prior art structures the condensing chamber was of such form and area that the arc gases were not so thoroughly purified as to wholly eliminate the carbon dust therefrom, as one result of which the globe inclosure became coated with carbon dust to a greater or less extent, dependent somewhat upon the character of the carbons and also upon the intervals of trimming the lamp.

The basic feature of the present invention is a condenser with a plurality of chambers each closed at the top and open at the bottom so that said chambers are in free communication at the bottom portions thereof with the globe inclosure, said chambers providing for the flow of arc gases successively from one to the other, whereby the gases from the arc are free to flow upwardly and downwardly within the chamber nearest the arc, so that the gases are measurably cooled by Contact with the walls of said first chamber and some of the dust is deposited therein, after which the bases flow out of the first chamber, pass to a limited extent into the globe inclosure, and thence flow into the next chamber, within which last chamber the gases flow upwardly and downwardly so as to become again cooled by contact at this time with the walls of said second chamber and to attain a further deposit of the carbon dust within said second chamber.

Experiments which I have made demonstrate that the arc gases flow into and from the first condensing chamber, thence to a limited extent into the globe chamber, thence into and from the second chamber, and so on back to the globe chamber. VThe flow of gases from the bottom portion of the first chamber into the corresponding portion of the second lchamber is due, probably, to the fact that they are reheated as they pass to the limited extent mentioned within the globe chamber, such heated gases from the arc being appreciably cooled as they circulate within the first chamber and flowing into contact or mixing with the hotter gases in the globe chamber, so that the cooled and reheated gases from the first chamber pass into the second chamber and are thus again cooled within the latter before flowing back to the globe chamber and the are. As a result of'this successive circulation within the plurality of condensing chambers, the carbon dust is eliminated to a marked extent from the gases and deposited upon the metal walls lof said chambers, the tests of the long life lamps showing vconclusively that there is no appreciable deposit upon the inner surface of the globe inclosure.

In a practical form of the condenser, the second chamber is preferably but not essentially of greater vertical dimensions than the corresponding dimensions of the first chamber, but in the operation of the condenser it is found that, speaking relatively, the dust deposits are about the same in the two chambers.

ySothoroughly is the dust eliminated from the arc gases by their circulation within the successive chambers of the condenser that it is practicable to employ a single arc inclos-.

ing globe of the usual form and dimensions, although it is to be understood that I reserve the right to employ a double walled globe for inclosing the arc, or I may employ a globe inclosure embodying a closed bottom inner globe and an open bottom outer globe with a view to securing the circulation of air into contact with the closed bottom of the inner globe for the purpose of producing a settling chamber at the bottom of the globe inclosure, which chamber is free to collect the heavier particles of unfused carbon dust set freevby the consumption of the carbons by the are.

In the drawings,

Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sectional views of my condenser used in connection with different forms of globe inclosures, the arrows illustrating the circulation of the arc gases.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, the condenser consists of a plurality of shells A B C, which produce a plurality of chambers D E, each of which chambers is closed at the top and is open at the bottom for free communication with the chamber F of a globe inclosure. y Y

It is apparent that the shape of the shells may be varied as found desirable, but as sho-wn the shell A is cylindrical, whereas the shell B is tapering, and shell C may be either tapering or cylindrical.

Shell lB is positioned within shell A, at the lower portion thereof, and said shell B is joined in a suitable way tothe interior of shell A intermediate therends thereof, the union of shell B to A being air and gastight. The cooperating shells A B are so positioned as to produce the condensing chamber D, the latter being closed at the top and open at the bottom.

The shell C is arranged exteriorly to shell A which it substantially incases, and shells A C thus coperate to form another condensing chamber E, the latter being closed at the top and open at the bottom. The lower end-s of all the shells are in about the same horizontal plane so that the condensing chambers D E have free communication with the chamber F of the globe inclosure, said chamber F constituting the combustion chamber of the arc established between the electrodes Gr G. It is apparent that the electrodes may be positioned in alinement vertically, or they may be arranged in downwardly converging relation common to arc lamps of the so called flame variety. As shown, a plate H,V composed of insulating and non-combustible material, is positioned within shell B, at a suitable distance above the lower open end thereof, to produce a relatively shallow space or chamber L, into which the hot gases from the arc are free to pass, and thence flow upwardly into the condensing chamber D nearest the arc. Said plate H is provided with an opening for one carbon G of a pair of vertically alined carbons to pass therethrough, or should the carbons be arranged in downwardlyV converging relation then, obviously, the plate H should be provided with separate openings for the two said carbons to extend through said plate.

At the lower end of casing C is a metal ring I, and coperating therewith is a movable ring J to which the globe inclosure is attached. The ring J is separable from or movable relative to the ring I in order that the globe inclosure may be openedfor trimming the carbons and for cleaning out the carbon dust which accumulates within the condenser. As shown, the globe inclosure is attached to ring (I, and the latter is removable with the vglobe inclosure from ring I of the lamp, thus making provision for handling the globes without the risk or injury by chipping the edges of the globe or globes, said ring J being connected by clamps j to the lamp or to the ring I. These clamps operate to draw ring J into tight contact with ring 1, thereby obtaining a substantially air and gas tight connection between the separable rings so as to preclude the outflow of the arc gases or the inflow of atmospheric air.

The are is inclosed by a single or double walled globe, but in the drawings the globe is represented as embodying an inner member K and an outer member L. The elimination of dust from the arc gases by the condenser herein disclosed is so thorough and complete that it is practicable to employ a single walled globe, and, accordingly, it is preferred to use a globe composed of a single thickness of glass or other transparent material. At the same time, the double walled globe may be used for the reason that the inner member, being incased against the cooling effect of the external atmosphere, will conserve the heat of the arc gases so as to remain in a heated condition and be almost wholly free from deposits of carbon dust. The two members K L composing the globe inclosure are of nearly the same size, and they are concentric to each other, so that said members are nested together -quite closely; in fact, the two members are separated from contact at their surfaces by a narrow air space or chamber, although said members may if desired be in mechanical contact.

The globe shown in Fig. l embodies members which are closed at the bottom, the upper ends being sealed to the demountable ring J, but in Fig. 2 the inner member L is closed at the bottom whereas the router member has a bottom portion cut away so as to provide an opening c through which is eX- posed the closed-bottom portion of member L. The edge of the out away bottom portion of globe K is packed at le so as to secure an air-tight connection between the member K and the member L at the bottom portion of the globe inclosure but around that part of the globe through which theV light rays emerge, the globe inclosure is composed of double walls in order that the inner member may conserve the heat of the arc and the outer member will incase said inner member so as to preclude the air from chilling the hot inner globe. By exposing the closed bottom portion of the inner globe to the cooling effect of the air in the construction of F ig. 9., the heavier particles of carbon dust are free to settle in the bottom of globe L.

The diameter of the globe inclosure is equal substantially to the diameter of the condensing chamber E, and thus two important functions are secured, rst, chambers D E both communicate with the combustion chamber F formed by the globe inclosure around the arc, and, second, while the inner member of a double walled globe is heated to such a temperature as to conserve the heat of the are gases immediately around the are and preclude the deposit of dust, said globe member is at such a distance from the are as to obviate any tendency of the globe to become etched by the hydroiiuoric acid formed by moisture and the products of combustion.

The shells of the condenser are composed of metal, whereas the globe or double walled globe inclosure is composed of glass. Furthermore, shell A extends a suitable distance above the inner shell B so as to form the casing for the feed mechanism of the lamp, and this chamber is ventilated by the provision of certain air vents M and H, thus permitting the free outiiow of heated air from the interior of shell A through vents M and the inflow through vents M of atmospheric air into contact with the inner surfaces of shell B and of that part of shell A above the line where shell B joins therewith. 1t is manifest thatthe circulation of air into contact with the external surface of shell C and with the inner surfaces of shells A B will tend to oset to a certain extent the heating effect of the hot arc gases flowing within chambers D E, but as the metal shells are quite responsive to the cooling action of air flowing into contact with certain of their surfaces, the temperature of the metal shells is less than that of the globe inclosure around the arc, as a result of which the dust, in the arc gases flowing within chambers D E, deposits or accumulates on certain surfaces of shells A B C.

1n the operation of the lamp, the globe inclosure is heated by the heat of the aro and by the contact of the arc gases therewith, the temperature of the globe being such that the dust does not deposit on the inner surface of said globe. The gases from the immediate vicinity of the are flow into chamber 71 thence upwardly and downwardly within chamber D, thence to a limited eXtent into chamber F, and beneath the lower edge of shell A, thence upwardly and downwardly within chamber E, thence into proximity to the inner surface of the globe inclosure, and finally within chamber F back to the arc, the direction of flow ofthe gases being indicated by the arrows. rlhe tests which 1 have made with carbons that give off smoke7 and fumes, visible to the eye under proper conditions, establish conclusively that the fumes and gases from the arc circulate successively through the chambers D E and thence return to the arc. 1t is found that the dust accumulates upon the surfaces (Z d of chamber D formed by shellsl A B, upon the surface e of chamber E formed by shell C, and upon that part of shell A within chamber E which liesabove the line at which the shell B is joined to A; in fact the dust from the gases deposits upon one surface of the wall the other surface of which is exposed to the cooling effect of atmospheric ,air flowing into contact therewith. Thus, in chambers D E the tests show that there are accumulations of dust upon surfaces l CZ and e e, but there are no deposits upon that surface of shell A below the surface e and within chamber E; in other words, that surface of shell A within .chamber E and below the juncture of shell B with A is free from accumulations of dust although there is an ample deposit upon the opposite surface cl of said shell A from the gases flowing in chamber D.

The salient feature of my condenser resides in the plurality of chambers, open at the bottom and closed at the top, for the purpose of securing a flow of gases successively within the chambers, said gases being free to flow through a part of the globe chamber as they pass from one condenser chamber Ato the other. It is apparent that the circulation of gases within chamber D results in an appreciable decrease in the temperature thereof, and it is preferable that some of the cooled gases, in a condition partly free from dust owing to the deposit of dust upon the walls of chamber D, should pass into and mix with the gases in cham* ber F; but as the partly cooled gases flow out of chamber F and into chamber E, such gases are again heated, or reheated, probably by admixture with the hot gases so that the dust, still suspended in the reheated gases, iscarried upward within chamber E, to be deposited on the surfaces e e thereof.

A factor of no inconsiderable importance is that the plurality of chambers D E provide a relatively large area for the circulation of the gases and for the deposit of dust, but at the same time the condenser is compact in construction with a view to overcom ing undue weight or presenting an unsightly appearance. To this end the vertical dimensions of chamber E exceed'the corresponding dimensions of chamber D, and while this is desirable in order to increase the area to perform the functions of cooling the gases and practically eliminating the dust therefrom, it is apparent that the relative sizes, dimensions, and form may be varied without involving a departure from the invention.

VAlthough the condenser is shown as embodying two chambers D E, it is apparent that the number may be increased. In view of the fact that the chambers are open wide at the lower portions, said chambers can be cleaned or wiped out whenthe globe inclosure is dismounted, it being apparent that 1 a brush or other implement can easily be inserted throughsaid wide open ends of the withthe axis of the lamp and separated by a single Vwall of heat-conducting material,

said Chambers being closed at their upper'V ends and each having their lower end positioned above the arc, and said lower end being open for free and unobstructed com- `munication with said combustion chamber,

the gases evolved by the arc being free to enter the lower open end of the chamber nearest said arc so as to How upwardly and downwardly therein and into contact with the walls of said chamber and thence said gases flow through a part of the combustion chamber and through the lower open end of the next cooling chamber remote to the arc so that in owng from one cooling chamber into the next cooling chamber the partially cooled gases are re-heated within the combustion chamber and are induced to how upwardly into the cooling chamber remote to the arc, within which remote cooling chamber the gases flow upwardly and downwardly andv into contact with the walls thereof, whence the cooled gases, substantially free from carbon dust, flow back through the combustion chamber to the arc.

2. In a condenser for arc lamp gases, the combination with a combustion chamber surrounding the arc, of a plurality of metal shells positioned in concentric relation with the-axis of the lamp and above the arc, said shells being closed at the upper portions Ythereof and the lower portions of said shells being open directly above the combustion chamber, said shells forming a plurality of substantially vertical cooling chambers separated by a single wall of heat-conducting material, the lower end of the shell forming said single wall being substantially at the same level as the edge of the inner partition, and said lower edges of both the partition and the single wall being above the arc, each of said chambers having unobstructed communication at the lower open end with the combustion chamber for the arc gases to flow out of the cooling chamber nearestthe arc beneath the edge of the shell separating said cooling chambers, and thence said gases are free to flow through a part of the combustion chamber wherein the partially cooled gases from the near chamber are reheated and thereby induced to flow upwardly into the cooling chamber remote to the arc,

whence the gases flow back through the com-y -globe inclosure surrounding the bodying a plurality of metal shells assembled in concentric relation with the axis of the lamp and united at their upper portions to produce a plurality of substantially vertical cooling and dust collecting chambers sepa 'ated by a single wall of heat-conducting material, the lower end of the shell forming said single wall being at substantially the same level as the edge of the inner partition forming a wall of the inner chamber, and the said lower edges of both the partition and the single wall being above the arc, each of said chambers being closed at the upper portion thereof, the lower portions of said chambers being open and in free communication with a combustion chamber surrounding the arc, the gases from the chamber nearest the arc being free to ilow through a part of the combustion chamber and into the adjacent cooling and dust collecting chamber, and from the latter chamber back to the are through said combustion chamber.

l. A condenser for are lamp gases embodying a transparent globe inclosure forming a combustion chamber around the arc and heated thereby to a temperature which precludes the deposit of carbon dust upon that surface nearest the arc, and a plurality of vertically extending cooling and dust collecting chambers concentric with the axis of the lamp and separated by a single wall of heat-conducting material, the lower end of the latter being at substantially the same level as the inner edge of a partition forming the wall of the inner chamber, and the lower ends of said single wall and the partition being both above the are, said chambers being closed at their upper portions and with the lower portions thereof in free communication with said combustion chamber, the gases from the cooling chamber nearest the arc flowing unobstructedly through the upper part of the combustion chamber upwardly into the next adjacent cooling chamber, and from the latter chamber to the arc through the combustion chamber.

5. A condenser for are lamp gases embodying a plurality of vertically extending condensing chambers positioned above the are and in concentric relation to the axis of the lamp, said chambers being separated by a single wall of heat-conducting material, with the lower end of the latter positioned at substantially the same level as the edge of an inner partition forming one wall of the inner cooling chamber, and said lower edges of the single wall and of the inner partition being both above the arc, and a arc and forming a combustion chamber wherein arc gases are generatedby the combustion of the carbons, said chambers being closed at their upper portions and having open lower portions in free communication with said combustion chamber for the arc gases to flow successively within said condensing chambers, that part of the globe inclosure nearest to the condensing chambers being substantially equal in diameter to the greatest diameter of the exterior one of said condensing chambers and said globe inclosure being supported in contact with the lower portion of said exterior condensing chamber so that all the condensing chambers are in unobstructed communication with the combustion chamber.

6. A condenser for are lamp gases embodying a plurality of vertically extending condensing chambers positioned above the arc and in concentric relation to the axis of the lamp, said chambers being separated by a single wall of heat-conducting material, with the lower end of the latter positioned at substantially the same level as the edge of an inner partition forming one wall of the inner cooling chamber, and said lower edges of the single wall and of the inner partition being both above the arc, and a globe inclosure surrounding the are and forming a combustion chamber wherein arc gases are generated by the combustion of the carbons, said chambers being closed at their upper portions and having open lower portions in free unobstructed communication with said combustion chamber for the arc gases to flow within said chambers successively, said globe inclosure being separable from said condensing chambers to permit free access to the interior thereof and through the unobstructed open lower portions so as to effect the removal of the dust deposits with facility.

7. A condenser for arc lamp gases embodying a globe inclosure forming a combustion chamber around the are, and a plurality of vertically extending condensing chambers positioned in concentric relation to the axis of the lamp, and separated by a single wall of heat-conducting material.y the lower end of the shell forming said single wall being substantially at the same level as the edge of a partition forming one wall of the inner chamber, and said lower edges of both the single wall and of the partition being above the arc, said condensing chambers being closed at their upper ends and open at their lower portions for free and unobstructed communication with the combustion chambers and the vertical dimensions of one condensing chamber exceeding the corresponding dimensions of the other similar chamber.

8. A condenser for are lamp gases embodying a globe inclosure forming a combustion chamber enveloping the are, a plurality of vertically extending shells positioned in concentric relation with the axis of the lamp and separated by a single wall of heat-conducting material, the lower end of said single wall being at substantially the same level as the edge ot an inner partition forming one wall of the inner chamber, and the lower edges of said single wall and of said inner partition being above the arc, said condensing chambers having the lower portions thereof open and in free communication with the combustion chamber, and a member positioned within the lower part of the inner shell and directly above the arc to form a relatively shallow chamber into which the arc gases are free to iow directly from said arc.

9. In a condenser for arc lamp gases, the combination with a combustion chamber surrounding the arc, of a plurality of substantially vertical cooling chambers positioned abo-ve the arc and in concentric relation with the axis of the lamp and separated by a single wall orp heat-conducting material, the lower end ot said single wall being at substantially the same level as the edge of the inner partition forming one wall of the inner chamber, and both the lower edge ot the single wall and the inner partition being above the arc, said cooling chambers having free communication at their lower ends with said combustion chamber and within each of which cooling chambers the gases are free to liow upwardly and downwardly and to iiow successively from the chamber nearest the arc to the chamber, thence through a part of the combustion chamber wherein the gases are reheated and thence into the cool ing chamber, remote to the are prior to returning the gases in a cooled and tree from dust condition back to the arc.

10. In a condenser for arc lamp gases, the combination with a combustion chamber surrounding the arc, of a plurality of substantially vertical cooling chambers and in concentric relation with the axis of the lamp, said cooling chambers being separated by a single wall of heat-conducting material, the lower end of eac-h single wall is at substantially the same level as the edge of an inner partition forming one wall of the Copies of this patent may ne obtained for inner chamber, and both the single partition and the inner wall being above the arc, each of said chambers having a single unobstructed opening in communication with the combustion chamber, said unobstructed opening forming the inlet of heated gases to the cooling chamber and the exit of cooled gases from said chamber, said chambers being positioned for the gases to liow upwardly and downwardly in each o them and successively from one cooling chamber through a part ot the combustion chamber and thence into the other cooling chamber prior to returning the gases in a tree from dust condition baclr to the arc.

l1. ln a. condenser 'for arc lamp gases, the combination with a combustion chamber enveloping the arc, of a plurality of substantially vertical cooling chambers concentric with the axis of the lamp and separated by a single wall of heat-conducting material, the lower end of said single wall being at substantially the same level as the edge of an inner partition forming a wall of the inner chamber and both the inner wall and the single partition being above the arc, said chambers being free from gas circulating connections with each other, each of said chambers being in unobstructed communication with the combustion chamber by a single opening which provides for the inlet of heated gases to, and the exit of cooled gases from, said cooling chamber, the outer wall ot the chamber nearest the are depending below the inner wall of said chamber so as to direct the hot gases from the arc iirst into said chamber nearest the arc, whence` the gases iiow into the cooling chamber remote from the arc, and thence in a tree from dust condition baclr to said arc.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence oli two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN L. DINSMOOR.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

